Environment & Water Reporter. Anne covers the Colorado River compact, drought, and environmental policy. She holds a master's degree in Environmental Journalism from Arizona State University.
189 articles published
Phoenix-area libraries report rising summer reading participation as a dinosaur-themed program called “Unearth a Story” draws families with costumes, events and prize incentives. Library staff say the program, which awards points for minutes read and event attendance, has helped re-engage children and increase circulation and registrations compared with recent years.
Frederick “Fred” Duarte, a Tucson native and longtime tire industry employee, died July 3, 2026, at age 69. Visitation is scheduled for July 15 at Martinez Funeral Chapels in Tucson; he is survived by his wife Rhonda, three children, numerous grandchildren, stepchildren and siblings.
A trio of friends turned a shared passion for antiques and design into Gather a Vintage Market, a brick-building shop in Tucson’s Lost Barrio that becomes a curated marketplace four days each month. Owners Simon Carson, Lorri Boffo and Timothy Reynolds rotate roles to transform the space into themed vignettes of vintage furniture, home decor and artwork that draw shoppers back for new discoveries each month.
A 23-year-old Tempe woman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after a three-vehicle collision on west Phoenix’s I‑10 that left one man dead and a passenger seriously injured. State troopers say the crash occurred just before noon Sunday when the woman’s vehicle struck a Toyota Highlander, which then struck another SUV and spun into an exit sign pole.
A 60-year-old bicyclist died after being struck by a pickup truck in west Phoenix on Thursday afternoon, family members confirmed to reporters. Police said no arrests have been made and investigators remained at the scene.
A 33-year-old man was discovered unresponsive and bound to a wheelchair on June 25 in south Phoenix. Two men were later arrested in connection with his death; one was booked on homicide and kidnapping charges and the other died in custody over the Fourth of July weekend while the cause of his death remains under investigation.
A rezoning application from The Garrett Companies seeks approval to develop a 15-acre parcel in Deer Valley into a 336-unit, four-story multifamily complex. The Deer Valley Village Planning Committee will consider the request at a July 6 hearing, with site plans submitted to the city showing the project would consist solely of multifamily housing.
Patients report receiving unexpected 'facility fees' on medical bills that increase the cost of routine doctor visits. Investigators are examining how those surprise charges are applied while consumers file complaints and review paperwork to challenge them.
The Maricopa Association of Governments and the Heat Relief Network have identified water, cooling and donation sites across the Valley intended to reduce heat-related illnesses and deaths. A list of the 10 stations nearest Arcadia is available, but full details are behind a membership wall.
A joint venture between Ryan Companies and Standard Real Estate Investments has finalized an 85,241-square-foot lease with Okland Construction for Building D at 17 North Corporate Center in Phoenix. The contractor will use the space primarily to expand its prefabrication capacity to better serve technology-sector clients, and one remaining building in the complex is still available for lease or sale.
Nestled in the Catalina Foothills, Hacienda Del Sol began in 1929 as an exclusive ranch school for girls and has grown into a 97-room boutique resort after multiple restorations and expansions. Longstanding architectural details, equestrian traditions and Hollywood ties remain woven into the property’s fabric.
Tucson Fire Department units responded to 177 calls between 7 p.m. on July 4 and 7 a.m. on July 5, including 95 fire-related incidents. Fire Chief Sharon McDonough says illegal fireworks and staffing shortages pushed call volume roughly 60% above the department's typical overnight total.
The Arizona Diamondbacks begin a seven-game California road trip with a four-game series against the San Diego Padres, with first pitch Monday at 6:40 p.m. Pacific/Arizona. Brandon Pfaadt will start for Arizona against Walker Buehler, and there are multiple viewing options including local team streams, MLB.TV and a national telecast on FS1.
First Alert Weather Days have been declared for Tuesday through Thursday as an extreme-heat warning covers the Phoenix area, with forecast highs climbing into the low- to mid-110s and little overnight relief. Lower elevations of the Grand Canyon also face heat warnings and watches as forecasters track the potential for Arizona’s first 115-degree day of the year and localized thunderstorm chances across parts of the state.
An expansive heat event will push daytime temperatures above 110 degrees across the Phoenix metropolitan area this week, prompting First Alert Weather Days and an Extreme Heat Warning. Forecasts show highs from 111 to 116 degrees across the Valley, with the hottest conditions expected midweek as a strong ridge of high pressure settles over the state.
A May 2026 housing mismatch report finds Phoenix carries a ‘Significant Shortage’ of homes affordable to households earning about $75,000. In March 2026 just 9.10% of listings in the metro were within the price range those buyers can afford, leaving roughly 9,626 affordable homes missing from the market.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced plans to open a new representative office in Phoenix, Arizona, to deepen cooperation with the United States in economic, technological, educational and supply‑chain areas. The decision follows growing Taiwanese investment in Arizona’s semiconductor sector, where TSMC’s expanding manufacturing complex has attracted suppliers and prompted local agreements on workforce training and AI collaboration.
With the Arizona Diamondbacks hovering around a .500 mark, a local talk show looked at the limited window the club has to alter the trajectory of its season before the midseason break. The conversation highlighted the looming All‑Star break and trade deadline as organizing milestones that will shape decisions in the coming weeks.
A local television weather broadcast warns of very hot conditions across Arizona this week, with temperatures expected to climb into the 110s. A broadcast weather map shows an 'EXTREME HEAT WATCH' covering large portions of the state, including the Phoenix and Tucson regions.
A longtime midtown Tucson fixture, American Antique Mall will vacate its Grant Road location after 33 years to make way for the city's Grant Road widening project. Owner Dwight Schannep plans a liquidation sale this fall and expects to downsize after clearing the 7,500-square-foot space by next July.
A 34-year-old man identified as Alejandro Daniel Ruiz Leon died after his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck near Valencia Road and Cardinal Avenue early Sunday morning. Pima County Sheriff's Department investigators say the rider was not wearing a helmet and that speed and impairment were factors; his passenger, who was wearing a helmet, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
An Extreme Heat Warning covers Tucson and surrounding lower elevations from 10 a.m. Tuesday through 8 p.m. Wednesday even as the season’s first meaningful monsoon moisture begins to arrive. Forecasters say temperatures will run several degrees above normal and that early storms are more likely to bring strong winds and blowing dust than widespread rainfall.
A pickup truck struck a tree near 7th Street and University Drive around 10 p.m. Sunday, leaving three people critically injured and transported to a nearby hospital. Phoenix police say all three are expected to survive as authorities investigate whether speed or impairment were factors.
A man suffered serious, possibly life-threatening injuries after being struck by a vehicle early Monday on Grand Avenue in Glendale. Police closed Grand Avenue in both directions near 71st Avenue while investigators worked the scene and urged drivers to use alternate routes.
